Silent Was The Night

The Bible tells us that Elijah, God's great prophet, fled to a cave and hid there from the evil king and queen, Ahab and Jezebel.  That night God spoke to Elijah - but not in the windstorm, or in the earthquake that shook the mountain, or in the roaring fire that followed.  Instead, God spoke to Elijah in a still, small voice - a whisper.

Matthew and Luke tell us in their gospels that many years later God again spoke to his people in a still, small voice - the still, small voice of a special child.  Again it was at night, calm and silent, when God spoke.  Again there was a cave, a stable carved from a hill just outside the village of Bethlehem.  And the prophet that time was God's greatest prophet, The Messiah, The Savior of the world, the child Jesus.
Outside that evening, the world prepared to rest from another day.  People went about their daily activities and chores until it was time to go to sleep.  It was on this night, long ago and far away, that Jesus, the Son of God was born.

All was calm.  All was bright.  Silent was the night.

At that time, Caesar Augustus decreed that all the people should return to their hometowns to be enrolled in a census.  So Joseph and Mary, his wife, who was with child, started out from Galilee to Bethlehem, the city of David, because Joseph was a descendant of David.
The road was dark as they approached Bethlehem.  The silvery stars glittered brightly in the clear sky.  As the walked, the quiet of the night reminded Joseph of the 23rd Psalm.  "The Lord is my shepherd.  He leads me by still waters.  Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil, for He is with me."  Ahead lay Bethlehem, crowded with travelers who came for the census.  Soon the village would sleep.  In the nearby fields, shepherds gathered around their campfires and prepared for the long night ahead.

All was calm.  All was bright.  Silent was the night.

Joseph and Mary had no sooner arrived in Bethlehem than it was time for Mary to give birth.  Since there was no room for them in the town's crowded inn, the child was born in a stable, wrapped in swaddling clothes, and laid in a manger.  Lying in a bed of fresh hay, the child slept, unaware of His simple surroundings.  Mary and Joseph rested from their journey and quietly watched the sleeping child.  Admiration and joy filled their hearts.  God's promise to Mary had come true.  The Messiah was born.  They named the child Jesus, or Immanuel, which means God with us.  The cattle and oxen slumbered peacefully in their stalls as they shared their home with the holy family.

All was calm.  All was bright.  Silent was the night.

At the same time wise men from the East came to Jerusalem saying, "Where is he who has been born king of the Jews?  We have seen his star in the East and have come to worship him."  Herod was king and after learning of Jesus' birth from his chief priests and scribes, he summoned the wise men and sent them to Bethlehem saying, "Go and search carefully for the child.  When you have found him, bring me word so I may come and worship him also."

The wise men set out and the star went before them, finally stopping over Bethlehem.  When they saw this they rejoiced, for they knew that this would be the place where God's Messiah, the Christ, had entered the world to bring salvation.  As the prophet Isaiah had announced long before, "a light to all nations" had been born.  The wise men's journey was nearly over.

All was calm.  All was bright.  Silent was the night.

That night in the countryside, shepherds were watching over their sheep.  In the quiet darkness the animals slept peacefully in the fields.  The stars sparkled brilliantly overhead.  It was a good night.  It was a perfect night.  The shepherds, one by one, settled down by the campfire's warm embers.  Another day's work was over.  It was time to rest.
All was calm.  All was bright.  Silent was the night.  

Then overhead, without warning, the glory of God burst forth from the heavens-an almost blinding light!  An angel appeared to the shepherds and they were terrified.  But the angel said, "Do not be afraid.  I bring you good news of great joy.  To you is born in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.  You will find him wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger."

Suddenly the sky was filled with angels singing God's praises, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to all with whom he is pleased."  And when the angels went away, the shepherds went to the village to see what had happened.  There they found Mary and Joseph watching over the child lying in the manger.  They knelt before Him with heads bowed low, their hearts filled with joy, and their minds filled with the glorious music of the angels.  Glory to God!  The Messiah has come!!

Meanwhile the journey for the wise men had ended.  They had found the place where the child was.  They entered and fell to their knees to worship him.  Then they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh-treasures fit for a king.  Not a word was spoken as the wise men stood before mother and child.
All was calm.  All was bright.  Silent was the night.

The angels were gone, their heavenly music replaced by silent stars.  The shepherds had come and gone.  The wise men from the East were on their way home.  The night was quiet and calm again.  Mary began to think about all that had recently happened in her life:  the journey to Bethlehem, the birth of Jesus, the visits of the angels and shepherds and wise men.  And, as the Scripture says, "She pondered these things in her heart."

"Little One, I don't understand why God chose me to be Your mother, I've never done this before.  Please be patient with me.  I know you will.  I hold the One who holds me.  I know the shadow of a cross will follow You all Your life.  The Scriptures say You will suffer...that You'll be wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our sins.  As Your mother, that frightens me.  But when I look at you, I am not afraid.  I know that You are God, and that comforts me.

This year, as we celebrate the birth of our Savior, let us also ponder these mighty events of God in our hearts.  Let us make room in our lives for Christ to dwell within us and bring us such joy as only He can give.  Let us say a simple Christmas prayer as we celebrate a special birth on a special night.  As the rest of the world rushes around in preparation for what the world has made of this event, let us take time to thank God for His special gift to us.  The special gift of Jesus, our salvation, our Savior, the Light of the world!

Dear Jesus,
In memory of that night when You were born and the finest gifts were laid at Your feet, I too offer the best I have.  I present to You my life, for You are the passion of my heart.  I know a cloud of witnesses is above me, looking down, and cheering me on.  In my mind, I see their faces.  There's Abraham and David and Peter and Paul....my grandfather and grandmother, my Uncle, my brother, and my granddaughter.  A heritage of faith has been given to me.  And I'll pass the story on to my children, and grandchildren and their children's children, and on, and on, and on.  I can't keep silent.  For You are exalted in my heart.  You are my God.  You are my Savior.  You are my King.
Amen

All is calm.  All is bright.  Silent is the night.